Cuyahoga Falls to provide dispatch services to Boston Heights

From Staff Reports

Sunday

Jan 1, 2017 at 12:01 AM

Cuyahoga Falls -- City Council on Dec. 27 unanimously approved authorizing the mayor to enter an agreement with Boston Heights to provide the village with dispatch and related safety services for the next five years.

During City Council's committee meetings Dec. 19, Falls Police Chief Jack Davis told Council that Boston Heights has a contract with Richfield until the end of 2016.

Davis said Boston Heights officials approached Cuyahoga Falls because they are interested in joining the police and fire dispatching Council of Governments that Falls, Stow and Tallmadge are talking about forming. The proposed site for the regional dispatch center that is being looked at is a space in a Summit County Health Department building off Graham Road. The Summit County Sheriff's Office has also expressed interest in joining the COG.

The chief said the city will charge Boston Heights $33,493 for the first year, and increase charges by 3 percent each year after that. The contract begins Jan. 1 and runs through Dec. 31, 2021. In 2017, Boston Heights will pay $2,791 per month to the city of Cuyahoga Falls, according to the contract.

Cuyahoga Falls' dispatch center is located at Fire Station 5 on Wyoga Lake Road.

Boston Heights Village Council approved the contract with Cuyahoga Falls on Dec. 13, according to Cuyahoga Falls Law Director Russ Balthis.

According to the contract, the city of Cuyahoga Falls will provide the following services to Boston Heights:

receive all E-911 calls for Boston Heights;

dispatch the Boston Heights police cruisers and notify ambulance service as required by the above phone calls;

transfer all Boston Heights' fire and EMS calls to Richfield;

provide Law Enforcement Automated Data System information in accordance with L.E.A.D.S. rules to the police department; to make emergency phone calls; and provide other emergency communication services as requested by the Boson Heights Police Department; and

to allow inquiry access to the call/incident files in the TAC CAD software and voice recording system to the Boston Heights Police Department upon request.

In addition to making payments to the city of Cuyahoga Falls, Boston Heights will also be responsible for office or clerical service that is needed in conjunction with the provision of the dispatch service, according to the contract.

Boston Heights will be responsible for owning, operating, installing and maintaining its present phone lines for the services.

Cuyahoga Falls will keep computer records of calls for service and be responsible for hiring, training, disciplining and dismissing its personnel.